There is some difference of opinion on how the super mode of Leader Class Optimus Prime is supposed to assembled. Takara toys and the television series portrayed with the wings up and his two large guns underslung, however Hasbro later sold the toy with pictures and instructions having the wings down and the guns over the shoulders. Commercials and repainted models by Hasbro went back to the way Takara assembled the super mode. In 2006 a Costco exclusive of Optimus Prime packaged with Wingsaber and a DVD (with Armada Supercon Optimus Prime printed on it!) of the episode United was sold, again with the wings-under gun-over super mode. In Japan a gold chrome edition of this toy was released as a Lucky Draw special.
A five-inch tall, non-transforming highly-articulated PVC figure of Optimus Prime in his Super Mode was the eighth entry in Takara's Mega Super Collection Figure series. In addition to a non-transforming figurine of Sparkplug, Optimus comes with two sets of alternate hands—one set with spread palms, one curled into fists—and is armed with his Convoy Gun, which can either peg into his right fist (and only his right fist) or onto his back.

Besides finding Megatron for the Transformers Movieverse, Mr. Sheppard was known for his many appearances across the Star Trek series and films. Additionally, he was well-known for his work as Blank Reg in the Babylon 5 series, and many other appearances in series like Dr. Who and more over his long-time career. You can read the full article about him via TV Guide.com.

Across the assorted continuities of the original Transformers universe, there have been various interpretations of Optimus Prime. One of Prime's most notable characteristics over all continuities his unswaying commitment to leadership by example. The animated series' version of Optimus Prime is depicted as a straightforward, wise, and upbeat battlefield general. Additionally, the animated series' version of Optimus dislikes rap music, putting him at odds with music-loving characters like Blaster and Jazz.
Optimus Prime's body was hauled out of the Arctic Ocean by the US military. While a terrorist organization run by the enigmatic Lazarus was able to seize control of several of the other Transformers that fell back to Earth, the military worked unsuccessfully to reactivate Prime. They eventually called in Spike Witwicky. Prime Directive #1 Spike was forced by the project chief, General Robert Hallo, to use his piece of the Matrix to reactivate Prime. Functional again, Prime used the Matrix to reactivate more of his fallen comrades. Prime Directive #2
The Autobots United 5 Pack includes another redeco of Voyager Class Evasion Mode Optimus Prime. This release features the faceplated headsculpt and, unlike the rest of the set, which strives for screen-accuracy, features a heavily Generation 1-inspired deco. Deco changes include replacing most of the blue & grey plastic into red, with blue paint applied on it, and his dark grey plastic is now a lighter shade. His Ion Cannon is now painted black to resemble his Generation 1 toy's blaster, color-wise.
Another redeco of Deluxe-Class Dark of the Moon Prime, this release uses a darker grey, a less magenta-y red, and less gold on the front end. Included is the trailer originally available with the Chronicle release. The trailer holds up to seven MechTech or similar 5mm peg accessories. Four holes are located on the top-front end of the trailer, with another three inside. The door also folds down to become a ramp, and the inside of the trailer is big enough for several Legion or Commander Cyberverse toys, or one smaller-end Deluxe figure. Two C joint bars also run along the bottom of both sides.
French die-cast model producers Majorette teamed with Kabaya to produce the Transformers Mini Car Collection, a line of Armada-themed die-cast vehicles, all of which were redecos of pre-existing Majorette toys. Prime was a redeco of Majorette toy #256—a long-nosed tow truck—in his traditional red and blue, now bearing the Autobot insignia, the Micron Legend logo, and an image of the Autobot leader on its hood. The toy came with a pack of gum.
LEGO has changed a lot in its history. It started as a wooden toy company before it discovered the benefits of molded plastic. Since the advent of the brick, we have been able to build everything from houses, to spaceships, to working robots. The increased detail and wider product line has allowed for the blossoming of the idea of LEGO as an art medium7. LEGO bricks walk the line between giving people more pieces that can be used to add detail and restricting the pieces to inspire creativity. There is a balance that can be seen through the amazing works, both large and small, that can be done with a bit of patience and an eye for plastic.

In "Mission Accomplished", Optimus is pressured by Sentinel to tell Ultra Magnus that his story about the Decepticons is untrue, but he refuses. Meanwhile, the on-board computer plots a train infused with a shard of the Allspark. When Ultra Magnus and Jazz set off there, Optimus suspects that the Decepticons are luring them into an ambush and rushes to their help, though Sentinel Prime tries to detain him. At first, Ultra Magnus doesn't believe him, but a short time later, Optimus is proven right as Starscream falls from the sky after being blasted by Megatron, much to Sentinel Prime's astonishment and fright. Starscream turns out to be alive, inflicting injury on Ultra Magnus. Optimus takes the affair into his own hands momentarily and, with Sentinel's aid, manages to apprehend the Decepticon. While Sentinel Prime deflects Starscream's shots with his power-shield, Optimus succeeds in taking Starscream by surprise and handcuffing him. When the shackled Starscream is delivered to the Elite Guard spaceship, Ultra Magnus admits Optimus Prime was right and allows him to stay on Earth in order to seek out the other fragments of the Allspark.

One peaceful day, Optimus decided it was too quiet, and sent Bumblebee and Mirage to find out what the Decepticons were up to. Sure enough, the Decepticons were looking for a factory, so Optimus had Mirage create a holographic factory as a trick, and ambushed the Decepticons. Optimus himself hurled Megatron into orbit. Decepticon Patrol Optimus and his Autobots rescued Sparkplug and Buster Witwicky when the pair were captured by Decepticons, and afterwards Prime was amazed when Sparkplug repaired Wheeljack and Prowl. After Bumblebee and Hound discovered that the Decepticons were attacking Hoover Dam, Optimus and his team defeated them. The Deadly Fuel Shortage
If Optimus led his troops back to the Decepticons’ poison lab, the convoy happened upon the Decepticons hauling barrels of poison out of the poison lab. Windcharger and Ironhide suggested two different plans to Optimus: Windcharger wanted to use his magnetic powers to cause a confusion, while Ironhide wanted to simply go in for a full frontal assault.

A re-release of the Leader Class figure from the Revenge of the Fallen line, but with retractable forearm hooks (as seen in his battle with Grindor) in place of the blades.[113] In addition, the figure comes with the unmasked head of Buster Optimus Prime and is painted with battle damage effects. A recording of Peter Cullen saying, "We must stop the Decepticons!" is played when his chest is pushed upward via a lever on his waist.[114] Fans have nicknamed this figure "Battle Hooks Optimus Prime" to distinguish it from the other Prime figures.[115]

Prime was perpetually at the forefront of the action throughout the early years of the war on Earth, usually confronting Megatron, though in some rare instances, such as against the Insecticon-controlled Decepticons or the Combaticons, teaming up with him for the greater good. He has suffered his fair share of battlefield scrapes, almost meeting his end when his vital cosmotron component was critically damaged by the Decepticon jets and when Laserbeak had his body disassembled and turned into Decepticon trophies, such as a pet "alligaticon" and a defense laser.
Really great, well-researched article. I think you hit the nail on the head here – the fact that there are more expensive sets than ever before affects perception. Also, I’m pretty sure the presence of a baseplate (light but large) in the old sets made them seem bigger. I don’t like the lack of baseplates in new sets – it does make them seem smaller.
Hot Rod first appeared in the American animated series during the events of The Transformers: The Movie (as a main protagonist), where he was one of the many Autobots stationed at Autobot City.[5] He was first seen fishing with Daniel Witwicky. When Daniel saw the shuttle that was going to make a supply run to Autobot City, he told Hot Rod and together they both went to an observation point, only to see a hole in the shuttle. The ship had been previously hijacked by Decepticon forces led by Megatron, with its crew killed.
According to IDW Publishing's Transformers: Movie Prequel comic book, Optimus Prime and Megatron co-ruled Cybertron until Megatron began a war for control of the Allspark. Optimus formed the Autobots, a militia of civilian transformers sworn to protect the Allspark. Optimus fought back, willing to doom Cybertron itself to deny Megatron the Allspark. His reasoning was that a new homeworld could be rebuilt with the Allspark once Megatron was no longer a threat. He entrusted Bumblebee with the task of distracting Megatron at Tyger Pax long enough for the Allspark to be sent into space.

Although peacetime in the decade that followed the apparent deaths of Unicron and Galvatron afforded Prime the opportunity to train his own elite squadron of Autobots the martial art of Kumite. The re-emergence of the war, however, forced him to return to his role as commander. The conflict for control of the Mini-Cons and the truths he was forced to face in his confrontation with Unicron seems to have changed him. Optimus Prime, Grand Convoy' in the Japanese version, was now a stern, more direct commander and shows little of the conflict that held him back before. Despite this, he is still known to make the same kind of decisions, which include an emphasis on team work and the foundation of the Autobot values.

Prime's trailer unfolds via a spring-loaded transformation mechanism in a battle station that is positively bristling with varied weaponry. In addition to the disc launcher, it is armed with a "ripple-fire" missile launcher that fires five missiles, an air-powered rocket launcher like the one previously seen on Hero Optimus Prime, and a small laser cannon that mounts on the base's main tower. Both the missile launcher and laser cannon can disconnect and be held by Prime; his LED-fist will illuminate the laser cannon like it does his sword. Additional missiles and a second rocket are stored in grooves inside the sides of the trailer.

Like several new-mold Revenge of the Fallen toys, Optimus Prime suffers from some cost-cutting measures that affected the final production version of the mold. According to Hasbro's stock photos/back-of-box photo of the hand-painted prototype, the toolboxes on the sides of his legs were designed to fold away further for a sleeker, cleaner look. Additionally, the rear tires would have been able to split in half, with the inner half of the tire going inside the outer half to recreate the thin tires seen on Prime's CG design. Some articulation was lost on the toy between Hasbro stock photography and the final release. His fingers are no longer articulated; instead, the entire hand is now one molded piece. Finally, the lower arms appear to have been originally designed so that his hands could slide in or out of them during transformation. Sadly, he also lacks rubber tires, which the original movie Prime did have. Meanwhile, the articulated fingers was later used for the Asia Premium Series & Movie The Best releases.
Smash & Change Optimus Prime is a simple figure that transforms by "smashing" the rear end of the truck/the robot's feet into the ground. He features only elbow articulation in robot mode, and includes a sword accessory that can be held in his hand or mounted on the side of his truck mode. The handle on the rear of his truck mode is molded to emulate his Vector Shield.
Alternity Convoy transforms into a 1:32 scale Nissan GT-R, featuring die-cast metal parts, an opening hood, trunk and doors, as well as an interior, complete with his feet and thighs being sculpted to form the back seats. This complex figure stands at 6.5" tall, and is armed with a pair of blasters on each arm. In the hyper-dimensional world of the oft-confusing Alternity fiction, this figure specifically represents the Optimus Prime of universal stream Primax 903.0 Beta.

Transformers GT "GT-R Prime" is a heavy retool of Alternity Convoy, transforming into a 1:32 replica of the Motul Autech GT-R race car used by the Nismo team in the Super GT racing championship series. He retains the flip-out blasters of the Alternity toy and can also wield his new Impact Wrench Gun accessory (also called the "Optimus Rifle" on the Transformers GT website), a weapon based on the impact wrenches used in car repairs. Like all GT toys, Prime also comes with a GT Sister, poseable human figures themed after race queens, his partner being a lady named Misaki.

In the episode "Along Came a Spider", Optimus discoveres that Elita did survive the ordeal with the giant spiders and was transformed into the technorganic Decepticon Blackarachnia. He offeres to try and help her, but is turned down violently as Blackarachnia has still not forgiven him. However, when she nearly dies trying to use the Allspark key to purge her organic half, Optimus saves her and repeats his offer to help her. She stings him instead, vowing that she will never trust him.
Based on the Classics toy line, the Timelines 2007 story is set 15 years after the end of the Marvel Comics story (ignoring all events of the Marvel UK and Generation 2 comics). According to exclusive bio information in the Transformers Collectors' Club magazine #15, Hot Rod followed Optimus Prime back to Cybertron from the Planet Klo. Once back, Hot Rod took up racing, but after a while found it pointless. Optimus Prime assigned to help organize the millions of Cybertronian refugees who returned to their home world. Hot Rod chaired the Cybertron Grand Challenge race, a race which featyred combined Autobot/Decepticon teams. With his maturing Hot Rod changed his name to Rodimus and was chosen to return with Optimus Prime to Earth to stop Megatron. Optimus Prime returned to Earth commanding Bumblebee, Cliffjumper, Grimlock, Jetfire, Mirage and Rodimus. When the Cybertronians Skyfall and Landquake arrive on Earth unexpectedly, Megatron attempts to destroy them, but Optimus Prime and his Autobots are able to drive Megatron away. Rodimus is wounded on a mission with Optimus Prime, before being brought back to the Autobot base.